Do you agree?

Langford up a level

Lindsay up a level

Culley up a level

Howes up a level

JVR down a level

They have done a very fair and considered analysis I feel. Could certainly be some movement between categories as their careers progress but don’t feel uncomfortable at all with the list and gradings.

Expect a few from the Unsure list to jump up once they get AFL games under their belt and really hope a few from the A Grade list jump up to Elite. This is what we really need to move back into the premiership window.

Great snapshot of our young talent though. Thanks for posting this.

Howes is a VFL player

21 minutes ago, lorn said:

Howes is a VFL player

I actually thought this as well , but after watching the replay I was surprised how many time Howes and Sparrow. We’re in the play, with a knock on or a mark. . I did not think either were a 23 lock but they did play well after quarter time. Hoping we win this week expecting a disappointing result

1 hour ago, adonski said:

Langford up a level

Lindsay up a level

Culley up a level

Howes up a level

JVR down a level

Don’t agree re JVR. He’s the same he was. One good game has had people holding him higher than he was, but really he’s just playing the same as he has since being picked up.

Clear A graders: none

Potential A graders: Windsor, Langford

Should be at least a nice player: Lindsay

Could be anything from quality to fringe player: Jeffo, Kentfield, JVR, Taylor, Latrelle

Useful role players: Kolt, Culley

Should be useful: Howes

Unsure: the rest really. Matthews on draft pedigree hopefully is something. Disappointed by Cross’ injury because he’s a fun player with real scope for improvement. Hopefully we see more of AMW soon. Kalani White is super raw but a mobile skilled 2m+ player is worth developing.

It’s a huge year for our key forwards. I believe in all 3 of them but we need to see more than just 1 good JVR game. We’ll know a lot more in 6 weeks time. If we’ve got 2 yet alone 3 genuine prospects the list is looking much better long term.

1 hour ago, lorn said:

Howes is a VFL player

Steven King has been continuously involved at the elite level of Australian rules football since he made his AFL debut in 1996.

He played 204 games of AFL football, then after his retirement spent 2 years as an assistant coach at the Saints, 10 years at the dogs (including in their 2021 side we beat in the GF), two years at the Suns (including 7 games as senior coach after they sacked Dew) and two years at the Cats as their midfield coach.

Then if course he was appointed senior coach at the dees.

In other words he knows football.

A serious question lorn.

Given his comprehensive knowledge amd experience of elite Australian rules football, do you think that given King selected Howes in the seniors at his first opportunity to do so agrees with your assessment Howes is a VFL standard player?

windsor, langford, and lindsay all have the capacity to be a-graders - and so they should given where they were selected in their draft years

i personally think howes, jvr, and culley already are role players - whether they can go beyond that remains to be seen; jvr has the potential to do so, but unsure if the others will

kolt, kuz pickett are fast on the path to being serviceable role players too - whether they can go beyond that will come down to their own development and i think the latter has more potential than the former, but i've been super impressed by tholstrup's ability to play his role so far in 2026

taylor should have significant upside, and i think matthews might too, despite his diminitive status

kalani and kentfield are wait and sees imo - both need a decent run of football before you can make a solid judgement, and a lot of gym work in white's case...pedigree is good tho

i think el jefe is a bust and won't be on an afl list beyond this season; he just doesn't get involved in the play enough and has had a poor run with injury

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by whatwhat say what

6 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

windsor, langford, and lindsay all have the capacity to be a-graders - and so they should given where they were selected in their draft years

i personally think howes, jvr, and culley already are role players - whether they can go beyond that remains to be seen; jvr has the potential to do so, but unsure if the others will

kolt, kuz pickett are fast on the path to being serviceable role players too - whether they can go beyond that will come down to their own development and i think the latter has more potential than the former, but i've been super impressed by tholstrup's ability to play his role so far in 2026

taylor should have significant upside, and i think matthews might too, despite his diminitive status

kalani and kentfield are wait and sees imo - both need a decent run of football before you can make a solid judgement, and a lot of gym work in white's case...pedigree is good tho

i think el jefe is a bust and won't be on an afl list beyond this season; he just doesn't get involved in the play enough and has had a poor run with injury

Wait for Picket Fence to come get you after that comment

1 hour ago, lorn said:

Howes is a VFL player

So, that must mean the VFL’s been upgraded a few levels too? Young Blake has been performing well at AFL level.

Edited 47 minutes ago47 min by Dr Don Duffy

Howes is in our best 23.

26 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

windsor, langford, and lindsay all have the capacity to be a-graders - and so they should given where they were selected in their draft years

i personally think howes, jvr, and culley already are role players - whether they can go beyond that remains to be seen; jvr has the potential to do so, but unsure if the others will

kolt, kuz pickett are fast on the path to being serviceable role players too - whether they can go beyond that will come down to their own development and i think the latter has more potential than the former, but i've been super impressed by tholstrup's ability to play his role so far in 2026

taylor should have significant upside, and i think matthews might too, despite his diminitive status

kalani and kentfield are wait and sees imo - both need a decent run of football before you can make a solid judgement, and a lot of gym work in white's case...pedigree is good tho

i think el jefe is a bust and won't be on an afl list beyond this season; he just doesn't get involved in the play enough and has had a poor run with injury

26 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

windsor, langford, and lindsay all have the capacity to be a-graders - and so they should given where they were selected in their draft years

i personally think howes, jvr, and culley already are role players - whether they can go beyond that remains to be seen; jvr has the potential to do so, but unsure if the others will

kolt, kuz pickett are fast on the path to being serviceable role players too - whether they can go beyond that will come down to their own development and i think the latter has more potential than the former, but i've been super impressed by tholstrup's ability to play his role so far in 2026

taylor should have significant upside, and i think matthews might too, despite his diminitive status

kalani and kentfield are wait and sees imo - both need a decent run of football before you can make a solid judgement, and a lot of gym work in white's case...pedigree is good tho

i think el jefe is a bust and won't be on an afl list beyond this season; he just doesn't get involved in the play enough and has had a poor run with injury

Aw Gawd here we go again...agree with second part if your assessment re poor run of injuries, but the upside is enormous. Selected round 1 in 2025 kicked 2 goals and set another 2 up. Injured vs Norf round 2 Busted hand spent weeks on sidelines and then was picked on no form or match fitness and failed ( not surprisingly) then was totally overlooked in back half of season in the Save Goodys coaching career fiasco pick me mates stuff. So showed really good stuff in first practice game 2026 before stress injury revealed ( which he played with in second outing) so Ok if you want to write of a 22 yr old Key forward so early then do so at your peril. I think King and Co rate him highly and feel certain he will be re signed baring any serious setbacks!

Happy to revisit later in year, but I'm backing him, Luker and Moose as well as young Kilarny White. These young Big guys ARE our future!

End of rant

I think Kolt is really learning his craft against the best, it's great for his development and I would expect to see him step up in the next couple of years to more than just a role player.

Has some really good attributes.